Cities established by the Romans (Comprehensive list)

RetroFuturista
Weird Italy
Published in
2 min readMay 14, 2024

The extensive and dynamic Roman Empire, spanning continents and encompassing diverse cultures, left a notable legacy through its urban centers. This list presents a selection of these cities, categorized to emphasize the varied nature of Roman urban development:

Planned Foundations: These cities were newly established by Roman authorities, often for strategic purposes like military outposts or centers for veteran resettlement.

Transformed Settlements: Existing towns and cities that experienced significant growth and development under Roman rule, incorporating elements of Roman architecture, infrastructure, and administration into their pre-existing urban fabric.

The Roman Empire’s extensive and dynamic reach left a notable legacy through the establishment and development of numerous urban centers. This list highlights a selection of cities founded by the Romans, categorized to showcase the diverse aspects of Roman urban development.

In Italy, cities such as Aosta (Augusta Praetoria), Bologna (Bononia), and Turin (Augusta Taurinorum) were established, along with others like Rome and Pavia (Ticinum).

In other regions, the list includes Cherchell (Cesarea) in Algeria, Schwechat (Ala Nova) in Austria, Tongeren (Atuatuca Tungrorum) in Belgium, and Osijek (Mursa) in Croatia.

Notable cities in France include Lyon (Colonia Copia Claudia Augusta Lugdunum) and Paris (Lutetia Parisiorum).

In Germany, Augsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum) and Cologne (Colonia Agrippina) are among the significant Roman foundations.

The United Kingdom features cities like Chester (Deva Victrix) and London (Londinium).

Additionally, the list includes cities not originally founded by the Romans but significantly developed under their influence, such as Milan (Mediolanum) in Italy and Bath (Aquae Sulis) in England. This curated resource aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Roman urban influence, reflecting the empire’s impact on the urban landscape across its vast territory.

Notes

This is a curated list, subject to updates due to ongoing archaeological discoveries and historical research. This resource aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Roman urban centers, offering insights into the diverse ways the Romans influenced the urban landscape across their expansive and influential empire.

For the full list of these cities, please check Weirditaly.com.

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RetroFuturista
Weird Italy

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